Food, water, and energy professionals must all share scarce freshwater resources. But do we share, or do we compete? And is the process constructive?

If you work in one of these sectors, you might have wondered if better integration is possible.

Find the answers at the 16th International Riversymposium. Food, water and energy professionals from across the globe will gather in Brisbane from September 23-26 to connect, learn from each other, and share solutions.

Examples of possible issues on the program include:

• How do we reconcile demands for biofuels with food production and finite water supply?
• Are energy-intensive water supply solutions like desalination and inter-basin pipelines sustainable?
• What is the best use for ‘produced water’ from coal seam gas extraction?
• Can urban food production play a serious role in tackling the food security challenge?

Earlybird registration for Riversymposium is now open at riversymposium.com

Topic: What the world should know about water

Go to the Water Wednesday website for more information.

Click here for more information.

Bill Gammage, author, historian and adjunct professor in the Humanities Research Centre at the Australian National University, will be talking about his new book at this event. For over a decade, Prof Gammage has examined written and visual records of the Australian landscape and has uncovered an extraordinarily complex system of land management using fire and the life cycles of native plants to ensure plentiful wildlife and plant foods throughout the year. He surmises that  Aboriginal people spent far less time and effort than Europeans in securing food and shelter, and explains how they did it.

When: Thursday 27^th June 2013, 6.00pm

Where: Ira Raymond Room, Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide

Details: Bookings by Tuesday 25th June to: robina.weir@adelaide.edu.au

The closing date for abstracts is Friday 27 September 2013.

Click here to download more information (PDF 520 KB)

The Conference Program is currently being developed around the following five sessions:

‘Extractive resource industries in the LEB - mining and petroleum’

‘Communities of the Basin’

‘Regional NRM and adaptive management challenges’

‘Enjoyment of the Basin – Tourism trends, impacts and management’

‘Water resources development and management’

As the program develops, the website – http://www.lebmf.gov.au/conference/index.html - will be updated with the latest information. 

The Conference theme is Building resilience in South Australia’s urban water systems, with a dedicated stream for Young Water Professionals.  The Conference will cover the topic areas of:

• Water Reuse
• Storm water harvesting
• Climate change adaptation
• Water supply systems
• Water treatment
• Policy and planning
• Community perspectives

Abstracts close COB Friday 3rd May.  Further details are available here: http://www.awa.asn.au/SA_Branch_Conference_2013.aspx

 

SA Patron: Prof  Rob Morrison OAM

The South Australian National Science Week Coordinating Committee  cordially invites you to:

Launch of Initial Program of Events

for National Science Week in SA
 

Thursday 16 May 2013
6.00pm to 7.30pm

Hosted by The RiAus at The Science Exchange, Exchange Place, Adelaide  
 

Annually, National Science Week reaches over a million people through science events and activities held across Australia.

At this function, there will be information about the 2013 program, how to access state grants if you are planning an event in National Science Week, and how to nominate for the Unsung Hero of SA Science Awards.

A Federal Government representative from Canberra will join us to provide an update on the progress of the Inspiring Australia initiative and how it is affecting science engagement across the country.

Please join us, learn more about ways that you and your organisation can be involved in celebrating science, share your thoughts and ideas, and meet others who are passionate about promoting science.
 
Refreshments will be available.

Please book for catering purposes at:

http://scienceweeksaprogramlaunch.eventbrite.com.au

National Science Week: 10 - 18 August 2013
www.scienceweek.net.au

The seminar will feature three presentations, covering both the technical and regulatory aspects of ASR and will include:

• ASR: Solution or Burden, East Gippsland's Experience

  Presented by: Simon Robertson, Manager - Water Resources, East Gippsland Water

• Implementing Aquifer Storage and Recovery to Optimise Wastewater Re-use along a Rapidly Expanding Urban Fringe

  Presented by: Attila Gaal, Senior Hydrogeologist - Water Innovation, City West Water

• Regulating Managed Aquifer Recharge

  Presented by: Craig Parker, General Manager - Groundwater & Rivers, Southern Rural Water

More details and registration information can be obtained from info@smartwater.com.au

 The report can be downloaded from the Goyder Institute website.

Download the report. (PDF 1.2 MB)

The theme for this MODSIM 2013 event will be Adapting to Change: the multiple roles of modelling.

ASOR (the Australian Society for Operations Research) and DORS (the DSTO led Defence
Operations Research Symposium) will be joining MODSIM and running streams in their topic areas.

Submission of high quality abstracts (max 250 words) close on 8 April 2013.

Click here for more information.

The report can be downloaded from the Goyder Institute website.

Download the report (PDF 3.38 MB)

These reports are entitled:

1. Floodplain response and recovery: Comparison between natural and artificial floods (Technical Report Series Nr. 13/4)
2.  Resilience and Resistance of Aquatic Plant Communities Downstream of Lock 1 of the Murray River (Technical Report Series Nr. 13/5)

The reports can be downloaded by clicking the above links or from the Publications page of the Goyder Instiute website.

You can subscribe to Goyder Institute E-News via the home page on our website or using the 'subscribe' link at the bottom of E-News.

Click here for more information.

The Program will commence in 2013 and will continue until 30 June 2015. For more information visit the webpage or download the Expression of Interest brochure (PDF 1.7 MB)

This is a reminder for Australian water professionals interested in applying for a water recycling industry/academic fellowship to contact the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence. The deadline has been extended. Submissions are now due Thursday, 14 March 2013.

The fellowship program aims to assist participants design their own research project and stimulate collaborative research between the water reuse industry and academia. Fellowships of up to $80,000 are available for water professionals to work in an Australian research institution or for researchers to work with industry, government or a private company on an applied water recycling project. Funding can cover salary and travel costs, including backfilling a position. The Centre is looking for R&D proposals relevant to Australia’s interest in water recycling and enhance industry-academic partnerships. For details and guidelines visit: http://www.australianwaterrecycling.com.au/coe/category-1/centre-fellowship

For enquiries please contact Dr Mara Wolkenhauer, email: mara.wolkenhauer@australianwaterrecycling.com.au or phone: +61 7 3015 9705

The event will allow us to concentrate on building a collaborative culture across the partner institutions, and may include scientific content, raising awareness and team building.

The Retreat will be by invitation only and numbers are limited. If you are involved in a Goyder Institute research project and would like to register your interest in attending, please email enquiries@goyderinstitute.org

In the meantime, a Science Retreat has been scheduled for June 3rd and 4th, an event  which will allow us to concentrate on building a collaborative culture across the partner institutions and may include scientific content, raising awareness and team building. This event is designed for Project Team Leaders and Team Members and will be invitation-only.

If you would like to register your interest in either event and be kept up-to-date please email enquiries@goyderinstitute.org

The report can be downloaded from the Goyder Institute website.

Download the report. (PDF 2.12 MB)

The theme of the symposium is "Addressing Future Water Supply Challenges" and includes talks by

• Robert Freeman, Commissioner, National Water Commission
• Tony Windsor MP, Federal Independent Member for New England
• Karlene Maywald, Chair, National Water Commission
• Craig Knowles, Chairman, Murray- Darling Basin Authority

and many others.

The programme and registration forms can be downloaded here.

You can subscribe to Goyder Institute E-News via the home page on our website or using the 'subscribe' link at the bottom of E-News.

The Industry and Academic Exchange Program (Centre Fellowship) is funded under the Centre’s Goal 4, and will help address the national knowledge needs and education components of this goal. The Centre Fellowship represents a significant investment in the sustainability of the national water reuse industry and will result in strengthened working relationships.

The Centre has committed $250 000 to this call for proposals, with up to $80 000 available per Fellowship.

The Centre Fellowship will allow water industry professionals to spend time embedded in Australia’s academic framework, and for researchers to spend time embedded within industry.

The Centre has a specific interest in proposals that will enhance research linkages between organisations to form strong and lasting industry-academic partnerships. These partnerships will assist in broadening the current network of research and development relevant to Australia’s interests in water recycling.

Visit the Centre of Excellence website for further information on the Industry and Academic Exchange Program and to find out how to apply for a Centre Fellowship.

• Support capacity building through knowledge sharing;
• Provide a means for informed, unbiased discussion of potentially contentious issues;
• Provide a means for discussion of important issues that receive less attention than they deserve;
• Create a high quality resource for water practitioners that is accessible and freely available across the world

Click here for more information.

Water Research is now the highest ranking journal in the water science field  with an impact factor of 4.865

The closing date for submission of manuscripts is 15^th March, 2013.

Click here for more information.

Adelaide Convention Centre, Tuesday 8th – Friday 11th October, 2013

The latest in climate change science, communication and policy from leading presenters from Australia and around the world.

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

• Atmospheric, oceanic and biospheric monitoring and change
• Climate modelling and projections
• Climate variability
• Climatic extremes
• Climate change communication
• Impacts and adaptation
• Policy and economics

GREENHOUSE 2013 is designed for researchers, representatives from all tiers of government, industry and NGOs.

Click here for more information.

The theme for this MODSIM 2013 event will be Adapting to Change: the multiple roles of modelling.

ASOR (the Australian Society for Operations Research) and DORS (the DSTO led Defence
Operations Research Symposium) will be joining MODSIM and running streams in their topic areas.

Click here for more information.

This year's inaugural Forum was attended by more than 100 delegates over the two days and feedback received from attendees plus lessons learned in organising such an event will ensure that the 2013 Forum will be even better.

To register your interest in attending the event and to be kept up to date as planning progresses, please email enquiries@goyderinstitute.org

The report can be downloaded from the Goyder Institute website.

Download the report (PDF 3.4 MB)

The report can be downloaded from the Goyder Institute website.

Download the report  (PDF 4.4 MB)

The Fund is seeking new and exciting projects that will help support innovative urban water projects in two key areas:

• Resource Recovery  
• Innovation in Asset Planning

The online EOI applications close at 2:00pm on 15 November.

Further funding details found at: http://www.smartwater.com.au/funding/open-innovation-investment-stream.html

Nominations for candidates to receive a Goyder Institute PhD Supplement for the period 2013-2015 are now being sought. The Goyder Institute will award supplements to PhD students undertaking PhD research at one of the Goyder Institute participant universities (i.e. University of Adelaide, Flinders University and University of South Australia).

The Research Advisory Committee (RAC) of the Goyder Institute for Water Research will assess the nominations for PhD Supplements and will make a recommendation to the Director of the Institute about the suitability of the candidates. Each University RAC member is responsible for the collation of PhD nominations from their respective universities. Each University is requested to nominate at least three candidates for a PhD supplement of (max) $10,000 per year for a period of three years (2013 – 2015).  The RAC members from the partner universities are:

• University of Adelaide:                A. Prof. Justin Brookes
• Flinders University:                      Prof. Peter Cook
• University of South Australia:     Prof. Chris Saint

Details about the PhD Supplements and the selection criteria can be obtained from your RAC member.

Nominations must be received from the universities before COB on Monday 3 December 2012.

The report can be downloaded from the Goyder Institute website.

Download the report (PDF 2.17 MB)

A framework for sustainable water management in Australia able to adapt to future challenges can be developed through fostering the principles of green growth – improving productivity and economic prosperity as well as improved environmental and social outcomes. This is the subject of a recent ATSE report: Sustainable Water Management: Securing Australia’s future in a green economy.

The report explores the linkages and interdependencies between the many roles, uses and sources of water in Australia, examines the vital role of water in maintaining national prosperity under key challenges, develops a systems model for water supply security and highlights the importance of scientific development and technological innovation in moving to a cleaner, greener economy. Crucially, the report sets out how green growth principles can be fostered to develop sustainable water management strategies able to adapt to future challenges in recognition of the interdependencies between water, the economy, the environment and society.

A short guide to the ATSE report is attached. 

The full report can be downloaded at: http://www.atse.org.au/resource-centre/ATSE-Reports/Water/

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Adelaide Festival Theatre Banquet Room

Celebrating 50 Golden Years of AWA (1962 - 2012)

The SA Branch Water Awards celebrate outstanding achievements by both individuals and organisations in the local water industry. The SA Awards Dinner will include the presentation of awards in the following categories:

•             SA Infrastructure Innovation Award

•             SA Program Innovation Award

•             SA Research Innovation Award

•             SA Undergraduate Water Prize - The Hodgson Medal

•             SA Postgraduate Water Prize

•             SA Young Water Professional of the Year

•             SA Premier's Medal

To register visit the SA Calendar on www.awa.asn.au

For further information contact Alison Bowman: phone 08 8362 7576 or email: abowman@awa.asn.au

Click here for more information.

The list is intended to include WSUD schemes in South Australia that address management of runoff quantity and quality, water harvesting and reuse and water conservation initiatives. This may include:

• Lot scale WSUD systems (e.g. rain gardens, on site retention systems, drought resistant landscaping)
• Street scale WSUD systems (e.g. raingardens/bioretention systems, infiltration systems, permeable pavements, vegetated swales)
• Cluster or development scale WSUD systems (e.g. wetlands, rainwater and stormwater  harvesting schemes such as ASR, recycled wastewater reticulation)

It would be greatly appreciated if you could forward on the name and location of any South Australian WSUD projects to one of the following research group members:

Baden Myers

University of South Australia

(08) 8302 6760

baden.myers@unisa.edu.au

Grace Tjandraatmadja

CSIRO

(03) 9252 6564

grace.tjandra@csiro.au

This work is being carried out through the Goyder Institute for Water Research

To join our newsletter mailing list please email enquiries@goyderinstitute.org or use the "Subscribe" field on our website www.goyderinstitute.org

Hosted by the National Water Commission and other members of the Australian Water Research and Development Coalition, this Forum was attended by over thirty invited participants representing all levels of government, water authorities, private sector water industry, university researchers, CSIRO, the new Cooperative Research Centre for water sensitive cities and state and national water research organisations.

Click here (PDF 157 KB) to read a communiqué that provides a brief summary of the outcomes of the Forum and describes several initiatives that were identified as desirable for implementation over the next 9 months to mid 2013.

Download the report (PDF 1.27 MB)

Download the report (PDF 3.11 MB)

Click here to view the document.

15 – 16 November 2012   Canberra, Australia

Early bird registration rates apply until Friday 31 August, 2012

http://tappingtheturn.org/registration/

In recent years, social scientists have imagined ‘social natures’ where the environment imbues, and is imbued by, human cultural activity.  This is in contrast to the idea of water as a scientific element, with a clear separation between the natural realm of water and the social contexts within which it is used, represented and controlled.  With its emphasis the separation between the natural and the social, modernity has robbed water of its history and geography, severed people’s connections with sources of a vital element and constrained our imaginative capacities to learn and ‘think with’ water.  ‘Social natures’ is one aspect of a revolution in the way people know and represent water.  There is a turn away from the presumed and established fundamental separation between the natural realm of water and the social contexts within which it is used, represented and controlled.

Tapping the Turn explores the nature of this revolution.

CONFERENCE KEY NOTE

Dr Margreet Zwarteveen, Assistant Professor and Senior Researcher Irrigation and Water Management and Gender Studies Wageningen University, The Netherlands.

SPEAKERS

Dr Rohan D’Souza Assistant Professor Centre for Studies in Science Policy Jawaharlal Nehru University, India

Ms Toni Meek Manager Community Engagement Yarra Valley Water Melbourne, Australia

Dr Jessica Weir Senior Research Fellow, Bushfire Co-operative Research Centre University of Canberra

Prof Julie Wilk Director Centre for Climate Policy Research, Linköping University Sweden

With more than 60 oral and poster presentations, 3 workshops and 1 book launch on offer over the 2 days, researchers, practitioners, policy makers and professionals interested in the social dimensions of water will be challenged and stimulated by the material presented.

Click here for more information.

Click here for more information.

The central theme of the congress is “THE WISE FIND PLEASURE IN WATER" (Confucius, BC 552-BC 479).

Click here for more information.

The event brings together members of the water industry from around the state to discuss emerging trends and current challenges being addressed in South Australia.

This year's conference has the theme Way Out Water - Beyond the City and Into the Future.

Download the full registration brochure and conference program.

Register for the conference here.

This year's conference has the theme Way Out Water - Beyond the City and Into the Future. It will include:

• Remote, regional and mining water management
• Energy neutrality
• Resource recovery
• Innovative water technologies
• Emerging developments in water management for cities of the future

Confirmed speakers include:

• Jurg Keller, University of Queensland
• Neil Palmer, National Centre for Excellence in Desalination
• Tony Minns, Goyder Institute
• Lee Morgan, Power and Water Corporation

Friday 17 August 2012
Stamford Grand Hotel, Glenelg

Download the full registration brochure and conference program.

Register for the conference here.

Website: www.ozwater.org

Download the report (PDF2.48 MB)

Wednesday 1 August 2012

5.30pm for a 6.00pm start

Allan Scott Auditorium, UniSA City West campus, (rear) Hawke Building, 50-55 North Terrace

Are we facing a significant threat to our State rights?

Legal experts from the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide and in private practice, will offer their perspectives on the rights of South Australians to water certainty in the context of the proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan. They will also address questions regarding sharing water rights and what can be done to achieve water justice for all South Australians – allowing for the full range of natural climate variability, the projected impacts of climate change and the requirements of a growing population.

Join UniSA Professor of Business Law Jennifer McKay, University of Adelaide Dean of Law, Professor John Williams, UniSA Associate Law Professor Wendy Lacey (moderator), and additional contributors Shaun Berg, Berg Lawyers and 2012 Fulbright Scholar Adam Webster, for this foray into water justice.

RSVP essential via  Hawke Centre website  

To join our newsletter mailing list please email enquiries@goyderinstitute.org or use the "Subscribe" field on our website www.goyderinstitute.org

Download the report (PDF5.8 MB)

If you would like to contribute a poster on the research you are undertaking through the Goyder Institute, please advise the Goyder Institute Office by no later than 3^rd of May 2012 on enquiries@goyderinstitute.org with the Poster Title, Goyder Institute Project Number and Authors.

The South Australian Government subsequently invited the Goyder Institute for Water Research to advise on the methods adopted by South Australian state agencies, to review the outcomes of the State Government assessments, and to provide additional expert advice on the potential ecological outcomes for South Australia. Given the limited time available, a detailed analysis was not possible and so the Goyder Institute established an independent Expert Panel to provide the required advice. The results of this Expert Panel assessment are given in the above report as part of our Technical Report Series; number 12/2. The report can be downloaded from www.goyderinstitute.org/publications

The panel session was designed to inform and engage the South Australian community and included The Hon Jay Weatherill, Premier of South Australia.

A copy of Dr Minns' presentation may be downloaded here.  (PDF 2.08 MB)

If you are interested in submitting photos, please contact us at enquiries@goyderinstitute.org

Please send only low resolution images in the first instance.

The Murray Basin Plan: from the past into the future

A panel session to inform and engage the South Australian community, including the Premier and other speakers

Wednesday 14 March 2012, 5.00pm for a 5.30pm start

Allan Scott Auditorium, UniSA City West campus, Hawke Building (rear), 50-55 North Terrace, Adelaide

While South Australia may be the State with the most at stake with regard to the Plan, it could be argued that it is also the State that has to work hardest to be heard.

Within South Australia there are a range of interests connected to the Basin Plan, but general agreement that even diverse interests can find enough common ground to support a united position that gets the best deal for the State. What are the issues we must grapple with in forming this position and what are the worthwhile compromises? Is the draft Basin Plan that has been released for consultation better than no plan?

This forum will bring together a panel of experts representing a range of interests – irrigator, environment and government – to discuss the critical issues surrounding the draft Basin Plan and to engage the community in furthering the State’s position. 

Panel Chair: Professor Chris Daniels, Barbara Hardy Institute, University of South Australia

Speakers:

• Historical Overview: Dr Susan Marsden, historical consultant and author
• Ecology of the Basin and the Basin Plan: Dr Tony Minns, Director, Goyder Institute for Water Research
• State Government position: The Hon Jay Weatherill, Premier of South Australia
• State Opposition position: Mr Mitch Williams – Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Water and also representing the Leader of the Opposition, Ms Isobel Redmond

Stakeholder comment:

• Lower Murray: Professor Diane Bell, Conservation Council SA
• Irrigator: Mr Ben Haslett, South Australian River Communities Group

RSVP essential via www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au or phone 08 8302 0215

All other contact details remain unchanged.

To join our newsletter mailing list please email enquiries@goyderinstitute.org or use the "Subscribe" field on our website www.goyderinstitute.org

http://www.nccarf.edu.au/conference2012/

http://www.ozwater.org

Download the report (PDF 6.5 MB)

• Analysis of South Australia's environmental water and water quality requirements and their delivery under the Guide to the proposed Basin Plan Download report (PDF, 3.8 MB)
• Socioeconomic implications of the Guide to the proposed Basin Plan – methods and results overview Download report (PDF, 2.4 MB)
• A compilation of reports informing a socioeconomic assessment of the Guide to the proposed Basin Plan Download report (PDF, 1.6 MB)

The South Australian Government may use this report to inform policy and respond to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority's proposed Basin Plan. Indications of how the South Australian Government may use this research can be found in the Department for Water's background paper to the Synthesis Report [external site]

Murray Flood Ecology will help to facilitate efficient use of environmental flows as the River Murray receives significant inflows after the worst drought in recorded history. The institute will monitor ecosystems along the river to provide the first detailed understanding of how ecosystem and river health changes as the river refills after a long period of drought. This $1.3 million project will take approximately 15 months to complete and will be led by Dr Qifeng Ye from SARDI. The Murray Flood Ecology project will be undertaken by a research team from CSIRO, the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, SARDI and the Department for Water.

Facilitating Long-Term Outback Water Solutions (FLOWS) will identify and assess potential groundwater sources in the Far North to help underpin mining development. This project involves identifying Far North groundwater resources and assessing their capacity and quality. The findings of this project could enable further mining and energy resource development in priority areas of the Far North. It will also give us the clearest picture yet of the location and characteristics of water resources in that area and it will help to guide how they might be developed and used sustainably. Stage 1 of FLOWS has a budget of $3 million and is due to be completed by mid-2012. The project is being led by Dr Tim Munday from CSIRO and is a major collaborative effort between CSIRO, Flinders University, the University of Adelaide, SARDI, the Department for Water and the department of primary industries.

Other projects recently approved by the board will consider sustainable management of water in the South-East and will consider ways of using wetting events to detect salinity thresholds for aquatic plants in the South-East. For more information, download the Press Release

The Goyder Institute for Water Research that was established earlier this year is working on a number of priority projects including a high-level scientific review of the guide to the proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Some of these projects were approved for funding in November 2010. For more information, download the Press Release